On Friday, Billy Graham's grandson Will Graham took part in a reception celebrating the new exhibit, which is scheduled to open to the public on Aug. 5, 2018 and run until Jan. 27, 2019. Through rare artifacts, photos and video footage, visitors will have the chance to explore the Bible's central place in Mr. Graham's life and ministry.
Billy Graham's daughter Ruth Graham stands with her nephew Will Graham inside the new exhibit.
Billy Graham's suit and pulpit from the 2005 New York Crusade are both on display. The new exhibit is called "Pilgrim Preacher: Billy Graham, the Bible, and the Challenges of the Modern World."
Will Graham is following in the footsteps of his late grandfather by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. On Friday at the Museum of the Bible, he spoke about his grandfather, who was known for preaching straight from the Word of God.
Will Graham and Ruth Graham listen alongside the museum's associate curator, Dr. Anthony Schmidt, and the director of collections operations, Dr. Jeffrey Kloha. “One of the most prominent voices for the past century is Billy Graham,” Schmidt has said. “He influenced millions of people around the globe and helped shape the American religious landscape after World War II.”
Ruth Graham and some of her family members were among the first to get a look at the exhibit.
The exhibit focuses heavily on Billy Graham's early ministry, including the 1949 Los Angeles Crusade that catapulted him into the national spotlight. “People in their 30s and younger may know who he is, but they remember him in the later stages of his ministry, if they know him at all," associate curator Dr. Anthony Schmidt said. "We feel like this is an opportunity to introduce them to this dynamic preacher that really burst onto the national scene, kind of out of nowhere, in 1949 after World War II.”
